Take a look at the three skulls below. #2 has less detail and is less anatomically accurate than #1. And yet, because it is bold and committed in its line and form, it is far more striking. Now look at #3. It is the least anatomically correct of all. But because it is the most bold and the most committed of the three, it is the most artistic, the most interesting, and is the most successful at conveying a feeling of “skullishness.”

How many times have you seen a martial artist win a contest on commitment alone? Isn’t the efficacy of a technique less important that the commitment? Which would you rather rely upon: an effective technique thrown half-heartedly, or a simpler, less effective technique delievered with full force and commitment?

Whether your art involves the pen or the sword, pick a line and commit. What makes your art good and interesting — even art at all — is often the certainty of your hand and eye.